Jenn Cringoli
Jenn Cringoli is an account director at ASV, an event and experiential marketing outfit based in Torrance, Calif.
Richard Erschik
Richard Erschik is a successful exhibitor, service business founder and CEO. He has been a featured speaker, presenter and roundtable moderator at the EXHIBITOR show in Las Vegas for 18 years.
Oddmund Braaten
Oddmund Braaten is CEO at Interprefy, a multilingual meeting technology and services provider. Launched in 2015 with the idea of removing the need for interpreters to travel to venues to do their jobs, Interprefy has helped thousands of companies reduce their carbon footprint with remote simultaneous interpretation technology.
Carl Garner-Watts
An expert in B2B and event marketing, Carl Garner-Watts serves as lead marketing content creator for U.K.-based trade show stand design and installation contractor Quadrant2Design.
Kelsey Raymond
Kelsey Raymond is the co-founder and CEO of Influence & Co., a content marketing agency that offers comprehensive services in strategizing, creating, publishing and distributing goal-oriented content for diverse clients, including venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 brands.
Ade Allenby
Ade Allenby is an event technology specialist and owner of Allenby Advisory, which helps event organizers and suppliers develop, sell and implement new value propositions through digital and event technology. His background is in digital product management, having worked for 10 years in the telecoms industry managing the digital transformation of sales, marketing and service functions. Allenby joined the events industry in 2015, working for Reed Exhibitions (RX Global) as global head of digital innovation.
Jim Cermak
Jim Cermak is a professional trade show trainer and coach who finds joy in helping exhibitors, associations and show organizers make more money at their shows and events. He is also the host of the Trade Show University podcast, in which he and expert guests provide listeners with tips, strategies and expertise.
Mike Szczesny
Mike Szczesny is the owner and vice president of EDCO Awards & Specialties, a dedicated supplier of employee recognition products such as crystal awards, branded merchandise and athletic awards. Szczesny takes pride in EDCO’s ability to help companies go the extra mile in expressing gratitude and appreciation to their employees.
Matthias Clock
With over a decade of experience marketing trade shows, conferences and consumer events, Matthias Clock is an experienced events professional with a passion for digital innovation and data-driven marketing. Currently serving as Marketing Director at RX, Clock is committed to driving digital transformation at Vision Expo and across RX.
Las Vegas Celebrates Trade Show Success
Las Vegas kicked off 2023 with some of the largest trade shows in the world, once again proving the power of face-to-face and the city’s designation as the number-one trade show destination in the U.S.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.